Ephesians 4:18
“Many are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds against Him, so they can’t understand His ways.”

And today – my prayer is that you understand who God really is – because if you could understand God’s ways – just like C.S. Lewis did – you too would be surprised by joy.

The enemy is always trying to tempt us away from God’s plan for our life – and he does it with something that’s just not true.

The enemy of your soul will promise you everything and then immediately betray you.

 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

John 8:44
Jesus described the devil as a liar and said, “There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

And here’s the tragedy, every time we fall for the bait, we end up in bondage as a prisoner to the enemy. 

It may not happen immediately – but every time we go our own way – we always end up in chains – bondage and darkness.

 John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

I heard an old preacher say sin will take us further than we want to go, keep us longer than we want to stay, and cost us more than we want to pay.

When we go our own way, we actually become property of the devil. Every time we buy into his lies – and reject God’s story – our blood – our life becomes the devil’s property.

When we sin and become property of the enemy – the only thing pays for sin – is blood.

 Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That means all sin has to be paid for – by blood or by death – and we can pay for it ourselves – or we can receive what Jesus did on the cross.

God loves you so much that sent His Son to give His life on the cross to pay for what we did. He paid our sin bill with His blood.

John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

God allowed His Son to be mistreated and then die for people who didn’t deserve it.

You’ll never find another expression of love from anyone else more than what Jesus did for you. Jesus in his mercy steps in and takes all of the punishment and pain so that His family and His story can be restored.

 Luke 24:6
“He is not here; He has RISEN!

You see, the cross paid for your past, but the resurrection now gives you the power for your future.